In a week that began with a 5 a.m. Sunday morning budget vote by the Connecticut House of Representatives, the state legislature voted on a flurry of bills as it concluded its 2013 session June 5.
The Business Journal examines just a few of the significant measures that were approved by the legislature:
$1.5B UConn plan approved
The Next Generation Connecticut initiative, which calls on the state to invest $1.5 billion in the University of Connecticut over the next 10 years through the issuance of bonds, was passed June 4.
The initiative focuses on the expansion of the university”™s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs, and includes the construction of science labs, equipment, classrooms and student housing.
“In an era of lagging state support for public higher education throughout the nation, Connecticut is going in the opposite direction,” UConn President Susan Herbst said in a release. “It is incredibly bold, far-sighted and virtually unheard of in the current climate and will make UConn one of the most research-productive universities in the world.”
The university plans to revolutionize its STEM infrastructure at the Storrs campus, relocate its Greater Hartford campus to the city”™s downtown and expand its digital media and business programs at the Stamford campus.
With the investment, student enrollment is expected to increase by a third and more than 4,000 permanent jobs will be created. It”™s also expected to spur more than $500 million in business activity.
Renewable energy gets boost
The legislature approved changes to modernize the state”™s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), which is aimed at encouraging the development of new renewable power projects and a greater reliance on “green” energy sources.
Connecticut”™s RPS was instituted in 1998 and requires that each utility obtain a certain percentage of the electricity it supplies from renewable sources, with penalties for noncompliance.
For years, critics of the RPS have said that the relatively limited capacity of renewable energy sources in Connecticut has hindered utilities”™ efforts at meeting the standard.
In response, the bill passed last week allows for a small portion of large-scale hydropower ”” which is not classified as a renewable energy source under Connecticut”™s RPS ”” to nonetheless count toward utilities”™ renewable energy targets. However, under a late amendment to the bill, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is required to first look into establishing long-term contracts with other providers of Class I energy before hydropower can be counted toward the RPS requirement.
Under existing law, utilities are required to obtain at least 20 percent of the electricity they supply from Class I sources by the year 2020. Class I sources include solar systems, wind turbines, fuel cells and certain sustainable biomass facilities, among others. For 2013, at least 10 percent of the power provided by utilities must be from renewable sources.
“The move toward more renewable energy is a critical part of our overall effort to provide cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy to residents and businesses,” Malloy said in a statement. “By moving from dirtier, out-of-state biomass to cleaner hydropower, we will both improve air quality throughout New England and lower cost for consumers.”
GMO labeling now required
On June 3, Connecticut became the first state to require food manufacturers to label products made with genetically modified ingredients.
The law, which passed in a 134 to 3 vote, won”™t take effect until at least four states ”” including one that shares a border with Connecticut ”” pass similar legislation. The provision is an attempt to protect the state”™s businesses from being at a competitive disadvantage to companies in neighboring states.
Genetically modified organisms refer to plants and animals that have been altered genetically by unnatural means, usually to increase shelf life, resist disease or adjust the color and taste of a product.
At least 20 other states are considering similar laws, including New York, Maine and Vermont.
